Shloka 23
मारीचोपदेशः — Maricha’s Counsel to Ravana
On Rama’s Dharma and the Peril of Abduction
स सर्वैस्सचिवैस्सार्धं विभीषणपुरोगमैः।मन्त्रयित्वा तु धर्मिष्ठैः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।।।।दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्वतः।।।।हिताहितं विनिश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।
sa sarvaiḥ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ vibhīṣaṇapurogamaiḥ |
mantrayitvā tu dharmiṣṭhaiḥ kṛtvā niścayam ātmanaḥ ||
doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca sampradhārya balābalam |
ātmanaś ca balaṃ jñātvā rāghavasya ca tattvataḥ ||
hitāhitaṃ viniścitya kṣamaṃ tvaṃ kartum arhasi |
Délibère avec tous tes ministres, avec des conseillers justes conduits par Vibhīṣaṇa, puis arrête ta décision. Pèse les fautes et les mérites, et jauge forces et faiblesses—les tiennes et celles de Rāghava en vérité. Ayant discerné l’utile et le nuisible, fais ce qui convient.
I hope the city of Lanka along with the (entire) race of demons will not be destroyed, with a dictator like you who is a slave to sensual pleasure.
FAQs
Rajadharma requires deliberation with righteous advisers and truthful assessment (tattvataḥ) of power, merit, and consequences before acting.
Mārīca urges Rāvaṇa to consult his council—especially dhārmic voices like Vibhīṣaṇa—before taking steps against Rama, stressing realistic appraisal.
The virtue of prudent decision-making: seeking dhārmic counsel, weighing pros and cons, and choosing what is ‘kṣama’ (proper).